In this blog, we will take a look at the two point guards that have been dominating the NBA for the past decade: Derrick Rose and Chris Paul. We will compare their statistics, highlight their strengths and weaknesses, and discuss what makes each player so special.

Derrick Rose Vs Chris Paul Stats

NBA Championships and Seasons

	Chris Paul	Derrick Rose
NBA Championships	0	0
NBA Seasons	17	13
Playoffs Played	14	7
All-Star Games	12	3

Honors and Award

	Chris Paul	Derrick Rose
Season MVP	0	1
All-NBA First Team	4	1
All-NBA Teams	11	1
All-Defensive 1st Team	7	0
All-Defensive Teams	9	0
Assists Leader	5	0
Steals Leader	6	0
Rookie of The Year	1	1

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

	Chris Paul	Derrick Rose
Points Per Game	18.1	18.2
Rebounds Per Game	4.5	3.3
Assists Per Game	9.5	5.4
Steals Per Game	2.1	0.8
Blocks Per Game	0.1	0.3

Totals Stats

	Chris Paul	Derrick Rose
Total Points	20,936	12,230
Total Rebounds	5,206	2,239
Total Assists	10,977	3,646
Total Steals	2,453	521
Total Blocks	172	235
Total Games	1,155	672

Was CP3's MVP Season In 2007-08 Better than Rose's?

Chris Paul made his NBA debut as a superstar point guard in 2007-08. That year, CP3 took over as head coach of the New Orleans Hornets, leading them to a second-place finish in the Western Conference (56-26) and a first-place finish in the South West. Unfortunately, the Bees were eliminated in the second round of the Western Conference Finals after losing a hard-fought seven-game series against the San Antonio Spurs. In reality, the 2007-08 NBA season has become the Hornets' benchmark season as the finest in team history. And Chris Paul led his club while averaging at least 20 points and ten assists each game, an extraordinarily unusual performance by NBA standards. Enter Derrick Rose, who is in his superstar breakout season in 2010-11 at the same age (22) as Paul was in 2007-08, making this case even more persuasive. On the surface, Rose has done two things better than Paul: he has led his club to the third round of the NBA playoffs (and is still in it), and he has earned the regular season MVP. But, at the age of 22, who had the better breakout season, Rose or Paul? Looking into individual numbers reveals some extremely close similarities. Each player appeared in at least 80 games for their respective teams, averaging 37 minutes per game. Their free throw percentages are both at 85%, and their RPG statistics are around 4.0 each game.

• Rose has a big advantage in PPG at 25 to Paul's 21.1 (taking 19.7 attempts per game to Paul's 16.1) and in block shots at 0.6 per game to Paul's 0.1.
• In the more crucial point guard numbers, Paul is clearly the winner: FG% (0.488 to 0.445); 3P% (0.369 to 0.332); assists (11.6 to 7.7); and steals (11.6 to 7.7). (2.7 to 1.0).

Paul also had fewer turnovers to go with his improved assist totals (2.5 to 3.4). It's also worth noting that Paul led the league in thefts three times (2007-08, 2008-09, and 2010-11), including an NBA record 108 consecutive games with at least one steal in 2007-08. Furthermore, Paul played in a much harder Western Conference with a smaller supporting cast than Rose did this season. When you go past the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Orlando Magic, Rose's Eastern Conference opponents were rather poor. A non-debatable reality, however, is that Chris Paul's extraordinary achievement of scoring at least 20 points per game and giving out at least ten assists per game placed him in the most uncommon, distinguished, and elite club in NBA history—a club that Rose does not yet belong to. Tim Hardaway was the latest player to enter that illustrious club in 1992. The other five members are Oscar Robinson, Tiny Archibald, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, and Kevin Johnson. Inclusion in the 20-point, 10-assist club should have been enough for Paul to win the MVP award that year over Kobe Bryant—who had a very good year, but not a record-breaking one (when you look at the overall season itself and not individual games). After considering the evidence presented above, it should be evident that CP3's 2007-08 season was superior to Rose's MVP season—especially given that it was one of the finest seasons produced by a point guard in NBA history. Both Chris Paul's MVP season in 2007-08 and Derrick Rose's MVP season in 2010-2011 were spectacular. There are several elements to consider while determining which season was superior. Let's start with a direct comparison of the statistics:

• Chris Paul: 21.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 11.6 apg, 0.1 bpg, 2.7 spg, 49% FG, 37% 3FG, 85% FT, 2.5 TO
• Derrick Rose: 25.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 7.7 apg, 0.6 bpg, 1.0 spg, 45% FG, 33% 3FG, 86% FT, 3.4 TO

Looking back at Paul's season, he led the league in assists and stole that year, and he had an unbelievable 4.6 assists per turnover. Rose's season was also impressive, as he had greater scoring totals, more blocks, and a slightly higher free-throw conversion %. Although Rose was named MVP, there are a few reasons why Paul appeared to have a stronger season. First and foremost, while both players were named to the All-NBA First Team, Paul was named to the All-Defensive Second Team and was obviously more influential on defense. He was notorious for shutting down opponents, and topping the league in thefts was an incredible achievement. Second, while Paul led the league in assists per game, Rose led the league in none of the main statistical categories. Rose averaged around four more points each game, but he also attempted four more shots every game. Paul seemed to have had the stronger overall game. Third, although Paul had 4.6 turnovers per game, Rose had only 2.2 turnovers per game. As a result, Paul proved to be more than twice as proficient as Rose in ball handling. Fourth, think about the level of competition. Chris Paul led the New Orleans Hornets to 56 victories and the second-best record in a difficult Western Conference that had eight teams that won at least 50 games. While Rose's team efforts appear to be greater, guiding the Chicago Bulls to the best record in the NBA with 62 victories, the Eastern Conference was not nearly as difficult as the Western Conference that Paul faced this past season. There were just four great teams in the East last season (Chicago, Boston, Orlando, and Miami). It might also be argued that Rose had better teammates than Paul. This year's Chicago Bulls roster included an All-Star in Carlos Boozer, an incredible all-around player in Luol Deng, and strong role players in Joakim Noah, Keith Bogans, Taj Gibson, Kyle Korver, and Ronnie Brewer. While Kobe Bryant earned the MVP award in 2008, Paul was just as deserved. Rose had a season to remember, winning the NBA's youngest MVP at the age of 22. However, in a head-to-head comparison of these two seasons, Paul appears to have the upper hand.

Where Do Rose and Paul Rank Among the Best NBA Superstars Today?

The NBA now has many brilliant superstars, but this season signals a reshuffle of the deck. Blake Griffin is the most intriguing player to emerge from the NBA since Vinsanity. Much is expected of this young gun—hope lets he doesn't burn out like Vince Carter. Boston's Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen is out indefinitely; their postseason domination is a thing of the past. San Antonio's three amigos (Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili) have joined the Boston tea party, and they're just as good at disappearing as their Boston counterparts. Amar's Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks are still too vulnerable to make this ranking. Kobe Bryant has also slipped—not because of his great determination, but because of his deteriorating game. However, his age, an unrecoverable bone-on-bone knee problem, and incapacity to practice are not enough to keep him off this list, as they were for the young and gifted tragedy known as Brandon Roy. Steve Nash is also not being removed from this list. He is still one of the league's top pure point guards. With his playoff domination, Dirk Nowitzki's stock has risen, and he's starting to mature like a good German wine—a far cry from the vinaigrette he's claimed to be over the last several seasons. However, no victory this year will leave Dallas fans with a bad taste in their mouths. Andrew Bynum's continuous effort and his spectacular second-half season will get him on this list sooner or later—just not yet. The same can be said for LeMarcus Aldridge and Zack Randolph. If LeBron James hadn't also received the Most Valuable Brick award for his clutchless inability to close off games during the 2010-2011 season, he would have won his third consecutive MVP over Derrick Rose. During the regular season, James was also unable to beat Rose—and people had not forgotten the classlessness that sticks out like a soiled rug, especially when MVP voters held him up to the light against a comparably angelic Rose. Whether you like it or not, Kevin Love has cemented his status as a superstar by bridging the Red Sea and having a Moses Malone-esque season. Another thing you may not want to admit: Pau Gasol, the crucified scapegoat for the Los Angeles Lakers, is the NBA's fifth most efficient player—sorry, I couldn't leave him off this list. Here are the top 15 NBA Superstars right now:

• LeBron James
• Chris Paul
• Blake Griffin
• Dwight Howard
• Dwyane Wade
• Deron Williams
• Kevin Durant
• Derrick Rose
• Dirk Nowitzki
• Kevin Love
• Rajon Rondo
• Steve Nash
• Russell Westbrook
• Kobe Bryant
• Pau Gasol

When it comes to the best NBA players right now, Derrick Rose and Chris Paul should be at the top of everyone's list. Derrick Rose's worth is rapidly rising as a result of his performance in the most recent playoffs. Legends such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, and Kobe Bryant rose to prominence during the postseason. While I disagree that Derrick Rose was the best player in the NBA this season (LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, and Dirk Nowitzki were all better), Rose may be the best player in the playoffs this year. Meanwhile, Chris Paul had a fantastic series versus the Lakers this year, playing like the dominant player he was before getting injured the previous two seasons. Paul's stats could have been better than Rose's before the previous game vs. LA. Nonetheless, I am not persuaded that Paul has fully recovered from his injuries and that they will not hinder him in the future. If he continues to play as he did in the postseason, he will undoubtedly be among the top five players in the league, if not the greatest. With these factors in mind, I believe LeBron James and Dwight Howard are the two best players in the NBA, closely followed by Dwyane Wade. I would put Derrick Rose fourth in the NBA right now, behind the three players listed higher than him, since I believe they are stronger defenders. Following Wade are Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant. Chris Paul, in my perspective, would rank around eighth among the league's top talents, if not in the top ten. Read more:

• Larry Bird vs Kevin Durant
• Kobe Bryant vs LeBron James

Who is the Superior Number One Option?

Both superstars can easily play off the ball. Both superstars are multidimensional, offensive threats who can score from the outside or through the paint. Because of their high basketball IQs and work ethics, both superstars have mastered offensive and defensive transitions, contributing on both sides of the court. Above all, both superstars are natural-born leaders. The number one choice for an NBA team should be a player that has not only a skill for scoring but also prioritizes that pursuit over any other contribution. In that environment, it's easy to infer that Derrick Rose is a stronger number one choice than Chris Paul because Rose's first focus when he gets the ball is to score. This is the primary distinction between Rose and Paul. Rose is a point guard who shoots first and passes second. Paul is a point guard who likes to pass first and shoot second. Chris Paul focuses his ability on getting his teammates engaged in the offense, making them better in the process. David West was the Hornets' go-to guy most of the time. But Paul has never shied away from taking over the offense when his team needs him, and he has done it several times by essentially carrying his team on his shoulders. This was evident in the first round of the playoffs when Paul led his team to two victories over the Los Angeles Lakers. Although David West was sidelined due to injury, Paul collected rebounds like a powerful center, threw out assists like nobody's business (in double digits, of course), and single-handedly extended the potential limitations of his talent-deficient colleagues. So the issue of who makes a better number one scoring option has been addressed, and it is undeniably Derrick Rose. But a more relevant question would be: Should a team's point guard be the offense (Rose), or should the point guard be the quarterback who facilitates the team's offensive schemes? When Chris Paul's jumper is on target, he may be the best number one option in the NBA. However, his mid-range and outside shots do not always fall. This is one of the reasons why Derrick Rose is the superior number one option. While his outside shooting touch is also inconsistent, Rose is one of the NBA's fastest players. Rose is one of the finest guards of all time at dribble penetration and finishing near the rim, with a clear athletic advantage over Paul. Rose spearheaded Chicago's offense at crunch time against the Pacers and Hawks, appearing to dominate late-game scenarios time and again. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Rose's game is his ability to get near shots in the last seconds of a game. Others who have made clutch baskets in the last seconds include Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony. However, none of these players now have the quickness and ability to get a last-second layup at the hoop like Rose. While Rose's field goal percentage was down this year compared to previous seasons, part of that was due to his shot selection (taking more three-pointers). In reality, his true shooting percentage increased from 53% last season to 55% this season. Rose is scoring more effectively than ever before. Even when Rose misses a shot off of penetration, opponents devote such much effort to stopping him that guys like Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer are able to crash the boards and receive second chances. While Paul is a stronger distributor and ball handler, Rose is learning how to be a more dominant scoring point guard. His 7.7 assists per game this season were a career-best and a good figure. However, Rose has surpassed Paul in terms of his ability to dominate and carry a team as the number one option (particularly in the clutch).

How Would Rose and Paul Fare If They Both Played For The Other Team?

Who would disagree that, when comparing the 2010-11 editions of the Hornets and Bulls, Chicago has a stronger group of players for a point guard to work with? This covers both the starting lineup and one of the league's finest benches. Chris Paul led a squad made up of scraps and average players (save for David West) to a winning season. This statistic becomes even more astounding when you realize that the Hornets were put together like a patchwork quilt, with no chemistry or synergy to speak of. A losing season from that group was expected to kick off a serious rebuilding process for the Hornets. But Chris Paul found a way to improve each of his teammates, and the Hornets won a stunning 46 games, including a couple of eye-popping victory streaks. How would Rose fare against David West, who frequently falls apart after hitting the 20-point mark; Trevor Ariza, who jacks up so many shots but can't hit the broad side of a barn; or Emeka Okafor, who is consistently MIA—and the rest of that group that isn't even worth mentioning? Rose would surely earn his points as the number one option, but his style of play is unlikely to increase the quality of play of the rest of the Hornets. As a result, anyone other than Paul, Nash, or Deron would have led the identical Hornets to a losing season, including Derrick Rose. Consider CP3 as the offensive facilitator for the Chicago Bulls, a superior team from the start than the New Orleans Hornets. It's not impossible to imagine Paul assisting Noah, Boozer, and Deng in increasing their combined scoring production since that's what he does. Only Deng's scoring figures have improved over his prior seasons, and Paul has the potential to make him even better. In contrast, even while Derrick Rose had an incredible year, he does not make his teammates notably better—simply because he is a shoot first, pass the second guy who makes his teammates into spectators the majority of the time. Rose had a terrible 12-of-32 from the field in Game 4 against the Atlanta Hawks, and many are beginning to question his shooting selection as well as his need to take so many shots—especially when surrounded by quality teammates. His statement also makes you think he doesn't trust his teammates as much as he should because he never indicates that he was attempting to use their talents when his game wasn't on: "It's absolutely not a terrific figure; I was just missing shots." Looking over the entire clip, I missed a ton of layups, layups that I typically [make]. And I was shooting a lot of shots, or jump shots. Those are the kinds of images I usually take." Overall, Rose and Paul would fare well if they switched sides. Regarding the Chicago Bulls, Paul's play would slow down some of the fast break action, but he would help the guys around him shine. Similar to how Paul assisted David West in becoming an All-Star, he would be able to assist Boozer in getting more easy looks at the basket. Luol Deng and Joakim Noah would benefit from Paul's outstanding playmaking abilities, as he may be the greatest in the NBA at enhancing teammates' scoring outputs. In sum, the Chicago Bulls can win just as many games with Chris Paul as they can with Derrick Rose. Rose's agility and athletic skills would most likely be used to increase the offensive tempo with the New Orleans Hornets. Whereas the Bulls feature powerful bruisers like Noah and Boozer, the Hornets have more finesse players like Carl Landry, Trevor Ariza, and Emeka Okafor. Because David West depends heavily on pick-and-roll plays (a strength of Paul's game), his productivity may drop. However, the rest of the players would profit from Rose's performance. As a result, Rose is likely to lead the current Hornets squad into the playoffs and maybe win a series or two.

Who Is the Better PG?

There are two possible answers to this question. Chris Paul is unquestionably superior to Derrick Rose as the finest pure point guard. This is a reference to his playmaking and ball handling abilities. However, when it comes to determining whether the point guard is the superior player, Rose is currently performing better. While Paul's Hornets squad made the playoffs after David West was injured, Rose led the Bulls to the best record in the league despite substantial absences from Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. Not only is Rose the more dominant scorer than Paul, but he is also efficient at making teammates better. For example, Luol Deng has had a fantastic year, thanks in part to Rose setting him up in ideal scoring positions. Furthermore, Rose's passes and dribble drives contributed to Joakim Noah's double-double average (despite his inferior scoring ability). Chris Paul might show me wrong and return as dominant as he was in the playoffs, seemingly making everyone forget about his previous ailments that slowed him down. However, I believe this is doubtful. Paul will remain one of the league's top players. But, at a younger age and with enormous potential, Rose will remain the finest point guard in the NBA.

FAQs

Is Derrick Rose a great player?

Derrick Rose is a good player. There is no denying that. His athleticism at the point guard position might be tops in the league. He makes some of the most unbelievable plays with the ball in his hands and when he gets going, he is going to score in bunches.

Who is better Derrick Rose or Stephen Curry?

Curry bests Rose in PER 36 for assist with 8.4 while Rose has 7.4 assist per 36. Curry also has a higher ast% with 39.9 and Rose with 38.7. Curry definitely has the better numbers, however, Curry does have more offensive weapons than Rose has. Klay is probably a better scorer than anyone on the Bulls that season.

When did D Rose fall off?

The image of Rose collapsing to the ground remains engraved in NBA lore. In one fell swoop, an emerging NBA dynasty–the Bulls entered the 2012 NBA Playoffs as the Eastern Conference's top seed for the second consecutive season–crumbled alongside its valiant leader, forever abandoned in a graveyard of “what-ifs.”

Conclusion

In short, Derrick Rose is a better player than Chris Paul. He is faster, stronger, and more athletic. He can get to the basket at will and finish with contact. He is a better shooter, and he is a better defender. Chris Paul is a very good player, but he is not on the same level as Derrick Rose.